Oyster-carrier.



11.0,BENDER.

OYSTER CARRIER.

. APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 9, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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ROBERT C. BENDER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OYSTE R-CA'B-RIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed March 9, 1903. Serial No. 219,939.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. Brnnnn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Oyster- Garriers, of which the following is aspecification containing a full, clear, and exact de scription,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an oyster carrier, particularly adapted forshipping oysters and the like from the sea coast to interior points, myobject being to provide a simple, inexpensive and compact carrier whichis adapted to receive and hold one or more oyster receptacles, and whichcarrier is adapted to be packed with ice at the time of shipment orduring transit, in order to refrigerate the contents of the receptacleswhile the carrier is in transit or storage.

A further object of my invention is to provide a carrier with a hingedcover which may be readily opened and closed, the edge of which cover isreinforced in order to withstand the rough usage the carrier may receivewhile in transit.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the center of a carrier ofmy improved construction; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenapproximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailelevation of the hinge which connects the cover with the body of thecarrier; Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the latch employed forholding the cover closed on the carrier; Fig. 5 is an enlargedhorizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 isan enlarged detail section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig.1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings: 1 designates thebody of the carrier, which is preferably constructed of wood, in theform of a keg or barrel, in the lower end of which is fixed a bottom 2.Fixed on the top of the body 1 is an inverted L-shaped band 3, whichprotects and rein forces the top of the carrier, and adapted to closethe open upper end of the carrier is a circular cover 4, preferablyconstructed of wood, and provided on its edge with a reinforcing ring orband ltigidly fixed to the upper portion of the body 1 on the outsidethereof is a bracket 6, and hinged thereto are the lower ends of a pairof links 7, the upper ends 'of which are hinged to the lugs 8. formedintegral with depending flange 9 formed on the ring Formed integral witha corresponding depending flange 10 on the opposite side of the ring 5is a lug 11, which is horizontally perforated, and journaled in said lugis a link 12.

Arranged for rotation in a bearing 13 in the upper portion of the body1, and adjacent the point occupied by the lower portion of the link 12when the cover is in position on the body, is a short siaft let, withthe outer portion of which is formed integral an eccentric lug 15, andformed integral with said shaft outside this lug is a short handle 16.

Positioned within the body 1 and oppositely disposed relative to oneanother are vertically arranged blocks 17, the lower ends of which reston the bottom 2, and which blocks are rigidly fixed to the body 1.

Fixed to the lower ends of these blocks 17 and upon the bottom 2 aresmall rectangular blocks 18. Vertically disposed within the body 1 arethe oppositely arranged skeleton frames 19, which are preferablyconstructed of metal, being curved in horizontal section, so as toconform to the shape of the body 1, and the upper ends of said framesare preferably wider than the lower ends. This pair of frames arearranged at right angles to the blocks 17, and formed integral with theupper ends of the frames are outwardly projecting ears 20, which bearagainst the inner face of the body 1, and passing through said ears andthrough the body are bolts 21, or similar fastening devices.

The lower ends of the frames 19 are provided with integral lugs 22,which engage in corresponding recesses 23, formed in the bottom 2, andformed integral with the lower ends of the frames and resting on top ofthe bottom 2 are lugs 24:, which are of the same height as are theblocks 18.

When the carrier of my improved construction is packed for shipment, thereceptacle containing the oysters or other commodity being shipped isplaced within the carrier 1 with the bottom of said receptacle restingon the blocks 18 and lugs 24:, thus maintaining the bottom of thereceptacle a slight distance above the bottom of the carrier andproviding for a space between the bottom of the receptacle and thebottom 2 of the carrier, through which space water and air may freelycirculate. The diameter of the carrier is such that it snugly litsbetween the blocks 17 and between the frames 19, and thus an annularspace is formed between the wall of the receptacle and the wall of thebody 1, which space is packed with ice, which thoroughly refrigeratesthe contents of: the receptacle.

After the carrier has been packed the cover at is closed and the link 12is swung downward over the handle 16 and into nosition beneath theeccentric 1.5, which eccentric and handle are swung upward into theposition seen in Fig. a. The handle 16 is now engaged and the eccentricmoved half a turn, \vhi h nulls the link downward and very tightlyengages the cover on top of the body 1. If desired, the cover may besealed to the body of the carrier in any suitable manner, thuspreventing the contents of the carrier from being removed while intransit.

A carrier of my improved construction is simple, strong and durable,comprises a .niinimnm number of parts is easily packed for shipment,and, if desired, can readily be re-iced during tf'ansit.

I claim:

1. In an oyster carrier, a cylindrical body, a plurality of independentvertically disposed skeleton frames arranged within the body, therebeing a space between said frames and the inner surface of thecylindrical body, the lower ends of which frames are seated in thebottom of the cylindrical body lugs formed integral with the lowerportions of the frames on the inner faces thereof, and which lugs reston top of the bottom of the cylindrical body and the up per ends ofwhich frames are rigidly fixed to the body.

2. In an oyster carrier, a cylindrical body, a plurality of independentvertically disposed skeleton frames arranged within the body, therebeing a space between 'said frames and the inner surface of thecylindrical body, lugs formed integral with the lower ends ofqtheskeleton frames, which lugs engage in recesses formed in the bottom ofthe cylindrical body, lugs formed integral with the lower portions of tie frames on the inner faces thereof, and which lugs rest on top of thebottom of the cylindrical body and ears formed integral with the upperends of the skeleton frames, which cars bear against and are rigidlyfixed to the cylindrical body.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT C. BENDER. Witnesses Ronnn'r BRAUCHY, OWEN COLLINS.

